Van der Vaart Criticizes Treatment of Mbappé at Real Madrid and Assesses Netherlands' Chances. Former Real Madrid player Rafael van der Vaart sharply criticized the scrutiny directed at Kylian Mbappé. He also evaluated the Netherlands national team's prospects at the World Cup, noting the tournament's challenging bracket.
A new round of debate has erupted around Kylian Mbappé at Real Madrid: former club midfielder Rafael van der Vaart publicly condemned the level of criticism faced by the French striker. According to him, despite being the team's top scorer and leading player, Mbappé is regularly subjected to harsh attacks from fans and the press. Van der Vaart called what is happening "a real scandal" and expressed hope that the footballer will be able to prove himself at the World Cup.
Van der Vaart voiced his opinion on NOS, where he also shared his forecast for the Dutch national team's performance. In his view, the team is capable of reaching the tournament semifinals if it avoids injuries and maintains an optimal lineup. He emphasized that the current squad allows them to count on victories over many opponents.
Other former national team players also joined the discussion of the Netherlands’ prospects. Wim Kieft highlighted the importance of a confident start in the group stage and consistency in team selection. In his opinion, reaching the quarterfinals or semifinals seems entirely achievable. Pierre van Hooijdonk, in turn, noted that despite talk of a "convenient" playoff bracket, the Netherlands’ group is considered one of the toughest in the tournament. He added that if the team advances from the group, they will likely face opponents such as Brazil or Morocco, which would significantly complicate the task.
The issue of pressure on leaders of European clubs and national teams remains relevant not only for Mbappé. In recent months, attention toward the performances of top players has intensified amid decisive matches of the season. For example, the Parisian club PSG was recently in the spotlight after a victory over Brest, which brought the team closer to another championship title — you can learn more about this in the article about PSG's key match.
For reference: Kylian Mbappé moved to Real Madrid after a successful career at PSG and remains one of Europe's most prolific players. The Netherlands national team has traditionally been among the favorites at major tournaments, but last reached the World Cup semifinals in 2014. In 2026, the tournament is being held in an expanded format, which increases competition and makes the road to the final more challenging for all top teams.
